A List of Items to Make a Hospital Stay a Little More Comfy

It would be wonderful if our loved ones never had to stay in the hospital. In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to think about hospitals and everything, good or bad, that goes on in them. For people who have had a baby born into the family, it's no new news that any stay in the hospital requires some packing. But sometimes it isn't for a joyful occasion that you are required to be at someone's bedside. In those times, a few minutes of preparation by you or by someone who's helping you out, will go a long way. You may need to rush to the bedside of a loved one, so be sure to not only use these tips to help yourself and others, but share them with other people so that in a pinch, someone can help you out.

Packing, in any situation can be chaotic, so start out by picking out a moderately sized piece of luggage. I would suggest a small to medium duffel bag, since hospital rooms aren't exactly roomy. Depending on how long you'll be staying with your hospitalized loved one, you'll want to pack enough clothing. If the stay is just overnight to a couple of days, here's a list to get you going:

1) Pajamas or comfortable pants and tee shirt. Even though sleep may not come easily, you can at least be comfortable.

2) Large sweatshirt. Hospitals tend to be chilly.

3) Dollars and quarters -- self explanatory, I think!

4) Small baggie of toiletries including : Lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, travel-sized shampoo (and conditioner), hand sanitizer, lotion, deodorant and any medications you might need (as seen in the picture, my solution to wasting space and lugging the whole bottles of antacid and headache medicine, I put a couple of doses in the center of a couple of squares of saran wrap and twisted them up). Ladies: sanitary napkins and/or tampons.

5) Entertainment -- a magazine, a novel, a crossword puzzle book, or even a laptop, can really add to your comfort and ease the stressful long hours. I always pack my laptop (which has several digital copies of movies), my Nintendo DS, and my ipod. When your loved one is resting, you'll be thankful that you have something to do. But don't forget to bring headphones or earbuds, so as not to disturb your loved one.

6) Cell phone or calling card. You'll want to keep your family updated on everything, especially during and after surgeries, when you won't have access to the phone in the hospital room.

7) Slippers. If you're spending the night, you won't want to wear shoes to sleep, but most hospital rooms have tile floors. Get some comfortable slippers to slide on in case you need to make a midnight trip to the restroom.

8) Clean undergarments and a change of clothes.

9) For ladies, toss a few hair ties or a hair clip in to keep your hair out of the way.

10) Glasses, contact lenses, cleaning solution, etc.

11) Cash, debit card, credit card, etc.

These items came in handy for me on a recent stay in the hospital with my mother in law. I found that my stay was much more comfortable for the both of us, since I didn't have to stress about not having what I needed, and I didn't have to leave her. Careful planning will save you a headache, but if you forget something small don't forget that most hospitals have small stores that carry little items like toiletries and over the counter medications.

May you visit to the hospital be a short one with a quick recovery!